Enox Biopharma, Inc. is an emerging biotechnology company with proprietary technology that embeds nitric oxide (NO) into polymer based medical devices. The innate immune system uses NO to block microbial growth - embedding NO into medical devices makes them antimicrobial. Enox’s technology is applicable to any indwelling polymer medical device including, but not limited to catheters, endotracheal tubes, tympanostomy tubes and cosmetic implants. With the current CMS non-coverage of nosocomial infections the financial burden of infections has shifted to hospitals who are desperately seeking ways to reduce infection rates. By utilizing NO, part of the human body's innate immune system, Enox Biopharma is improving existing medical devices by making them antimicrobial.

Infection Rates and Treatment Costs

In U.S., one out of every 20 hospital patients (5%) contract a hospital-acquired infection during their stay, leading to approximately 2 million infections, 100,000 deaths and between $28.4 billion and $45 billion in annual costs1,2. European countries report HAI rates between 5-10% with similar impact. The problem is becoming especially acute due to the high correlation between HAIs and increasing antimicrobial resistance to many common antibiotic drugs. More than half of HAIs can be attributed to the use of medical devices, including endotracheal tubes, urinary catheters, central venous catheters, and various other implants. Once these infections occur, they can cascade leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome, kidney failure, shock sepsis and even death.

1Gerencher, K. April 2008. The CDC and The fight against Hospital-Acquired infection.

2Scott RD Direct Medical Costs of Healthcare Associated Infections in US Hospitals and the Benefits of Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, March 2009